104 THE FUTURE OF EUROPE
well be defended. Its retention by Poland
in 1931 is more defensible still, for owing to
inevitable migrations the population of the
Corridor is more predominantly Polish, or
(to avoid the necessity of discussing the
precise racial affiliations of the Kashubes,
who figure largely there) less German, than
it was twelve years ago. And the develop-
ment by Poland of the port of Gdynia on the
strip of coast at the northern end of the
Corridor provides an additional reason why
Poland should have direct access to the Baltic,
But it is as well to be realist—as well for
Poland herself to be realist—and recognise
that the bisection of Germany by a ribbon
of Polish soil separating the mass of the Reich
from Danzig and East Prussia is keeping alive
in the breast of every German feelings of
hostility to Poland that make impossible
that normal relationship which is at least as
much to Poland's interest as to Germany's.
It would pay Poland well to secure Germany's
friendship by consenting to some adjustments
in the Corridor area.
That need not mean returning the Corridor
to Germany. Such a solution, of course, is
not excluded. There are many ways of
changing frontiers peacefully. Territory can
be bought, as the United States bought